Comments for The Sound of Rain http://soundofrain.net thoughts on the human experience Thu, 10 May 2012 00:42:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on The strawberry story by Joseph http://soundofrain.net/the-strawberry-story/comment-page-1/#comment-494 Joseph Thu, 10 May 2012 00:42:43 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=522#comment-494 Oh for goodness sake just enjoy the story as it is! Stop being a KILLJOY! Oh for goodness sake just enjoy the story as it is! Stop being a KILLJOY!

]]> Comment on The strawberry story by Linda http://soundofrain.net/the-strawberry-story/comment-page-1/#comment-467 Linda Thu, 03 May 2012 02:32:37 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=522#comment-467 Such a spacious story - able to contain myriad individual interpretations, every one of the above sounds very plausible to me! Reading Bea and Soundofrain and Kim J's reflections, I hear something quite personal, and it seems that is the point of the story, however it ends - to make it's wisdom ones own. It speaks to me of equanimity: to stay fully present in the moment without preference for pleasure or pain. Such a spacious story – able to contain myriad individual interpretations, every one of the above sounds very plausible to me!
Reading Bea and Soundofrain and Kim J’s reflections, I hear something quite personal, and it seems that is the point of the story, however it ends – to make it’s wisdom ones own. It speaks to me of equanimity: to stay fully present in the moment without preference for pleasure or pain.

]]> Comment on The strawberry story by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-strawberry-story/comment-page-1/#comment-418 soundofrain Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:56:39 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=522#comment-418 Beautifully said. Beautifully said.

]]> Comment on The strawberry story by Kim J http://soundofrain.net/the-strawberry-story/comment-page-1/#comment-417 Kim J Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:53:50 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=522#comment-417 Or, maybe the strawberry is a magic strawberry and gives her the power to fly. Or maybe plucking the strawberry and eating it opens a hidden door in the cliff that leads to a beautiful land of peace and love. For me, the point of the story is that there are always tigers all around us, there is always disaster pending on the horizon. The strawberry is the gift of the present moment and it is up to us to focus on that, and not on the past or future disaster. By enjoying the strawberry we honor the gift of this life we have been given. Or, maybe the strawberry is a magic strawberry and gives her the power to fly. Or maybe plucking the strawberry and eating it opens a hidden door in the cliff that leads to a beautiful land of peace and love.

For me, the point of the story is that there are always tigers all around us, there is always disaster pending on the horizon. The strawberry is the gift of the present moment and it is up to us to focus on that, and not on the past or future disaster. By enjoying the strawberry we honor the gift of this life we have been given.

]]> Comment on The strawberry story by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-strawberry-story/comment-page-1/#comment-415 soundofrain Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:56:31 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=522#comment-415 Nothing to do with being puritanical, or American for that matter (it's a Japanese story, maybe even older than that). As poetic as your thought is, and however true it may be, it's not all about pleasure. Or is it? And what do you make of the original ending? That moment of pleasure costs you your life. What is the storyteller trying to say here? Nothing to do with being puritanical, or American for that matter (it’s a Japanese story, maybe even older than that). As poetic as your thought is, and however true it may be, it’s not all about pleasure. Or is it?

And what do you make of the original ending? That moment of pleasure costs you your life. What is the storyteller trying to say here?

]]> Comment on The strawberry story by bea lilly http://soundofrain.net/the-strawberry-story/comment-page-1/#comment-414 bea lilly Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:06:03 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=522#comment-414 oh stop w the puritanical american anti pleasure or too much pleasure thing. its about being in the moment and if u r about to die what better way to face death than w the taste of a sweet wild strawberry on your lips oh stop w the puritanical american anti pleasure or too much pleasure thing. its about being in the moment and if u r about to die what better way to face death than w the taste of a sweet wild strawberry on your lips

]]> Comment on The least of the Three Treasures by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-354 soundofrain Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:02:32 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-354 Thank you! I'll look for Ambivalent Zen, it sounds good. Have you read Shoes Outside the Door by Michael Downing? Another troubled zendo. A few months ago, I found out there's been some pretty bad stuff going on at my former zendo and the associated monastery for years. When I get a chance, I'll post about it. It made me doubly glad I'd stopped going. Your zendo sounds great! I've heard wonderful things about Chapel Hill in general. Thank you! I’ll look for Ambivalent Zen, it sounds good. Have you read Shoes Outside the Door by Michael Downing? Another troubled zendo.

A few months ago, I found out there’s been some pretty bad stuff going on at my former zendo and the associated monastery for years. When I get a chance, I’ll post about it. It made me doubly glad I’d stopped going.

Your zendo sounds great! I’ve heard wonderful things about Chapel Hill in general.

]]> Comment on The least of the Three Treasures by Professordave http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-353 Professordave Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:40:23 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-353 I think this sangha sounds like a bunch of drips. Starts with the head monk and goes right on down (but I think the head monk sets the tone). There's no excuse for this shit. I wouldn't go there either. (Don't know if you've read Ambivalent Zen, by Lawrence Shainberg, but he describes a similar group. Maybe you've wandered into his old zendo!) I can't believe there isn't someplace better than this in all of New York. I attend the Chapel Hill Zen Center in North Carolina, and we have a wonderful sangha of very helpful people. The Abbess sets the tone for that, and has taken real care to creat a welcoming atmosphere. I think that's very important. I think that in a lot of cases people are just self-conscious in a situation like this. They don't know quite how to act, so they act in a cold and offensive way. Also, zendos back in Japan often were cold harsh places on purpose, more like the military than a religious institution, and some of that may have carried over. But I wouldn't put up with it. You were right to leave. I think this sangha sounds like a bunch of drips. Starts with the head monk and goes right on down (but I think the head monk sets the tone). There’s no excuse for this shit. I wouldn’t go there either. (Don’t know if you’ve read Ambivalent Zen, by Lawrence Shainberg, but he describes a similar group. Maybe you’ve wandered into his old zendo!)

I can’t believe there isn’t someplace better than this in all of New York. I attend the Chapel Hill Zen Center in North Carolina, and we have a wonderful sangha of very helpful people. The Abbess sets the tone for that, and has taken real care to creat a welcoming atmosphere. I think that’s very important.

I think that in a lot of cases people are just self-conscious in a situation like this. They don’t know quite how to act, so they act in a cold and offensive way. Also, zendos back in Japan often were cold harsh places on purpose, more like the military than a religious institution, and some of that may have carried over.

But I wouldn’t put up with it. You were right to leave.

]]> Comment on New earth on the barrens by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/new-earth-on-the-barrens/comment-page-1/#comment-352 soundofrain Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:13:06 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=546#comment-352 I've never heard of it! It sounds potentially mind-blowing. I've put it on my list, thank you! Right now I'm reading Summer of the Apocalypse by James van Pelt - absolutely beautiful - I will post a review when I'm finished. I’ve never heard of it! It sounds potentially mind-blowing. I’ve put it on my list, thank you!

Right now I’m reading Summer of the Apocalypse by James van Pelt – absolutely beautiful – I will post a review when I’m finished.

]]> Comment on New earth on the barrens by Professordave http://soundofrain.net/new-earth-on-the-barrens/comment-page-1/#comment-351 Professordave Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:49:10 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=546#comment-351 Have you read Dhalgren, by Samuel R. Delany? I think that should be next on your list, if you haven't read it yet. Have you read Dhalgren, by Samuel R. Delany? I think that should be next on your list, if you haven’t read it yet.

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